When bakers across Bahrain united during Ramadan to raise funds for children with special needs, one student seized the moment to explore her passion, overcoming challenges to bake brownies and cookies in support of the cause.
Fourteen-year-old Hannah Jaimon, a student at the Indian Ladies Association (ILA) Sneha Recreation Centre, worked with Ekta Vikas to bake delicious treats to raise money during the organisation’s Ramadan Healthy Bake Sale Charity Drive.
“I have learned to make chocolate lava cake, pancakes and cookies with my sister and also blondies and chocolate chip cookies from the teachers at Sneha,” Hannah, who lives in Segaya with her parents and siblings, told GulfWeekly.
“My favorite flavours are strawberry and chocolate, and I would love to continue baking and cooking.”
When she was young, Hannah was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a condition characterised by the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain – but she didn’t let that get in the way of finding a way to contribute to a worthy cause.
“When I saw Hannah in Sneha school last September after a long break – the first word she uttered when she saw me was ‘cookie’,” Ekta, a volunteer with ILA, added.
“I had taken a couple of baking sessions with them in the early part of last year and she enjoyed those.”
Last year, Ekta had conducted sessions for Sneha students ahead of the
annual Healthy Bake sale, noticing that Hannah showed a genuine interest
in baking.
At that time, Hannah had learned to bake blondies and
chocolate chip cookies, but of course, baking for a larger batch came
with its own challenges.
“As we made the baked goods, sometimes Hannah would get tired while rolling the cookies,” Ekta recalled.
“To
support her comfortably, we divided the activity into two sessions on
different days and allowed her to work at her own pace.
“Apart from
that, she was able to follow instructions very well. Like all children,
she would still require supervision while baking, but her enthusiasm and
willingness to learn were truly encouraging.
“After Hannah and I had
finished baking the cookies, she was taught how to pack the cookie –
she wanted to do all the steps herself.
“She wanted to pack each and every cookie herself, without any help. I was impressed to see her determination and perseverance.”
Hannah
was encouraged through step-by-step guidance, hands-on activities, and
regular practice sessions by Sneha volunteers and teachers that helped
her become comfortable in the kitchen environment.
She was supported in following instructions, measuring ingredients, mixing, decorating, and understanding baking routines.
With
encouragement from the team comprising Sridevi Krishnamurthy, Suchita
Mandhana and Sudha Ashok as well as the training provided by Ekta,
Hannah gradually gained confidence and actively participated in the
Ramadan Healthy Bake Sale Charity Drive.
The ongoing conflict and the
ensuing school closures to ensure safety brought their own challenges
but the team behind the sale was able to overcome them, raising
BD1,416.500, which will go towards the running of the Sneha centre.
“At ILA Sneha, every small step is nurtured with love, patience, and hope,” ILA president Smitha Jensen added.
“Every
child’s interests are moulded ever so patiently. These journeys reflect
the true spirit of ILA Sneha – not just providing support but creating
opportunities, and letting our children shine with dignity.”
For more details, follow @ilabahrain on Instagram.
